New Jersey is thinning its deer herd. How many of you oppose this? What would you do instead MORE

In a unanimous decision, New Jersey’s Supreme Court rejected a broad challenge by animal protection advocates to the state’s rules on the care of farmed animals) but struck down regulations that regard husbandry practices as being “humane” merely because they are routine. Thanks to Farmed Animal Net for this information from August 8. MORE

New Jersey Illinois Massachusetts Colorado Maine WORST STATES Ohio Hawaii Alabama North Dakota Mississippi Idaho South Dakota (worst) According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the states fell this way. According to this Technorati article , the Humane Society rated the states on their animal protection laws. BEST STATES California (best-yay!) MORE

Canine athletes are jumping through hoops to capture the gold at Doggy Games in Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Texas. London isn’t the only town where athletes are bringing home the gold this week. MORE

On Saturday, June 16, 2012, Rock & Rawhide is making their way over to Middlesex, Monmouth, and Union Counties in New Jersey to collect these essential items to benefit the Union Township Animal Shelter. MORE

Six members of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty were convicted at a 2006 trial in New Jersey of conspiracy to violate the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act. Huntingdon used mostly mice and rats , but also some dogs, monkeys, fish and guinea pigs , in its research in New Jersey. It was a 2-1 decision by the US Court of Appeals. From the Philadelphia Inquirer. MORE

Canary fighting is the new blood sport in Shelton, Conn. This blood sport was so popular that it actually attracted audiences from Boston and New Jersey. From the WTF files.and reported by the Associated Content news site. Aficionados range in age from 26 to 62, and it is more widespread than you think. MORE

To celebrate National Dog Day 2012, Best Friends Pet Care will be giving away free doggy ice cream treats to every dog who visits any Best Friends facility across the U.S. on Saturday, August 25. The treats are made of yogurt or soy with dog-preferred flavors like peanut butter and honey. MORE

Sarah Atlas is a search-and-rescue dog handler, one of many civilian volunteers who serve with New Jersey Task Force 1. The ceremony will be held at Liberty State Park at 12:45 and will begin with with the National 9/11 Moment of Remembrance, led by New Jersey Senator Frank R. MORE

Be aware of areas where Lyme disease (a common tick-borne illness) is prevalent: the eastern coastal states and the north central states, especially parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Wisconsin and northern California. 5 ways to de-bug your pet this spring: Ticks can be difficult to spot. Ticks are tiny, some about the size of a pin head. They can resemble freckles, moles or even specks of dirt. MORE

It’s prom season for teens everywhere — and that includes the canine kind! More than 600 doggy couples – decked out in bow ties and boas, tiaras and tails — will attend one of 38 Doggy Proms hosted by Best Friends Pet Care at its doggy day camp centers across the country. MORE

In this New York Times story, author Paul Lukas glorifies a New Jersey custom known among the locals as a "beefsteak." As Lukas informs us, a "beefsteak" is a raucous sexist feeding frenzy where 350 (all white) men sit shoulder to shoulder at long tables and gorge themselves on beefsteak soaked in a blood and butter sauce. MORE

NEW JERSEY – Animal shelters are full, they have no space, they often have no money, and they have a small amount of dedicated volunteers. MORE

California and New Jersey came out on top. It's their first annual "humane state" report. Ohio, Mississippi, North Dakota, Idaho and South Dakota are at the bottom. MORE

On Friday, the beagles — owned by a research facility in New Jersey whose parent pharmaceutical company went into bankruptcy — were released to the care of animal rescue groups that, after socializing them, hope to adopt them out as family pets. Good news! From ohmidog! a site for dog lovers. One hundred and twenty beagles who faced lifetimes being used in medical research experiments have been freed — just in time for the Fourth of July weekend. MORE

And the worst: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, South Dakota, Wyoming You can check out the whole report on their web site. The ALDF has released a report on how different states' animal protection laws stack up. Among the best: California, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon. MORE

New Jersey’s first bear hunt in five years is just a week away and set to go on as planned despite a last-ditch effort by several animal rights organizations to have the hunt postponed. The facts are clear, we have an overpopulation of black bears in New Jersey, and we must address that issue," said Martin in a press statement. "A Tags: cull new jersey bears hunting Despite efforts by animal rights activists to stop this hunt, it is scheduled to continue. MORE

To the Editor: Re “ On the Ground, Counting Deer ” (New Jersey and the Region, May 4) and the efforts of Essex County officials to justify the deer hunt in South Mountain Reservation: When I moved to New Jersey from New York City 13 years ago, I was enchanted to encounter deer in a forest two blocks from my house in South Orange (which abuts the reservation). MORE